POLIR-Society-Organization-Psychology-Emotions情绪-Emotion Wheel情绪轮: What It Is and How to Use One
Example of Application:
- https://www.interaction-design.org
- Course: “Emotional Design — How to Make Products People Will Love”
- Putting Some Emotion into Your Design – Plutchik's Wheel of Emotions
- 提高 “认识情绪”的能力 | 初探“普拉奇克情绪轮”
POLIR-Society-Organization-Psychology-Emotions情绪
Emotion Wheel情绪轮: What It Is and How to Use One
EMOTIONS > Emotion Wheel: What It Is and How to Use One
Emotion Wheel: What It Is and How to Use One
By Katharine Chan, MSc, BSc, PMP Updated on September 12, 2022
Reviewed by Sabrina Romanoff, PsyD
Table of Contents
Have you ever had trouble pinpointing the exact feeling you were feeling? It may be easy to say when you feel happy, sad, or angry. However, humans are complicated beings who experience a wide range of emotions. It can be difficult to have complete clarity of all your emotions.
One of the signs of emotional intelligence is the ability to recognize and identify your own emotions and what others are feeling. A greater understanding of emotions can lead to better communication skills, improved relationships, and healthier coping abilities.
An emotion wheel is a tool that can be used to identify and understand feelings.2 Find out more about the history of the emotion wheel, different versions of it and how to use it in your life.
Related : Which Human Emotion Are You? Take the Quiz
PWE(Plutchik's Wheel of Emotions)
Robert Plutchik was an American psychologist who created one of the most popular emotion wheels in 1980 called Plutchik's Wheel of Emotions.
The wheel was developed to help illustrate different emotions as part of his psychoevolutionary theory of basic emotions.
He theorized that core emotions serve to trigger us due to our survival instincts and have an evolutionary purpose. In addition, he believed that the concept of emotions applies to all animals and humans due to similar limbic system functions.
Upgraded PWE:Centered at "Neutral" and Inverted.
8 Core Emotions
The design of Plutchik's Wheel of Emotions is a flower with 8 petals located inside an octagon. It consists of 8 core emotions which are grouped into polar opposites and located across each other:
\(\large \begin{array}{lll} \\
&\bm{ Sadness } & versus &\bm{ joy } \\
&\bm{ Anger } & versus &\bm{ fear } \\
&\bm{ Expectation } & versus &\bm{ surprise } \\
&\bm{ Acceptance } & versus &\bm{ disgust } \\
\end{array}\)
10 points of PWE
Plutchik posited 10 points with regard to emotion:
- Emotions are found at all evolutionary levels of species. They are equally applicable to all animals as they are to human beings.
- Emotions evolved differently in different species and may be expressed differently between those species.
- The purpose of emotions is an evolutionary survival response enabling the organism to survive when confronted by environmental challenges.
- While emotions can be displayed and evoked through different mechanisms in different organisms there are common elements to emotions that can be identified across all emotional animals.
- There are 8 basic, primary emotions.
- Other emotions are simply a combination of these 8 basic emotions or are derived from one (or more) of these basic emotions.
- Primary emotions are "idealized" and their properties must be inferred from evidence but cannot be accurately stated in full.
- Each primary emotion is paired with another and is a polar opposite of that pair.
- Emotions can and do vary in degrees of similarity to each other.
- Emotions exist in varying degrees of intensity.
Range of Intensity of emotion from PWE
The core emotions appear in the second circle and the intensity of the color of each layer represents the intensity of the emotion. The emotions in the outer layer are soft-colored and milder whereas the ones in the center of the wheel are darker and more intense.
Each core emotion can be expressed at different intensities:
\(\large \begin{array}{lll} \\
&\bm{ Joy } & ranges\ from &\bm{ serenity } & to &\bm{ ecstasy } \\
&\bm{ Trust } & ranges\ from &\bm{ acceptance } & to &\bm{ admiration } \\
&\bm{ Fear } & ranges\ from &\bm{ timidity } & to &\bm{ terror } \\
&\bm{ Surprise } & ranges\ from &\bm{ uncertainty } & to &\bm{ amazement } \\
&\bm{ Sadness } & ranges\ from &\bm{ gloominess } & to &\bm{ grief } \\
&\bm{ Disgust } & ranges\ from &\bm{ dislike } & to &\bm{ loathing } \\
&\bm{ Anger } & ranges\ from &\bm{ annoyance } & to &\bm{ fury } \\
&\bm{ Anticipation } & ranges\ from &\bm{ interest } & to &\bm{ vigilance } \\
\end{array}\)
Combining Emotions
Combining different core emotions will create new emotions. Some examples include:
\(\large \begin{array}{lll} \\
\bm{ Joy } & +& \bm{ Trust } & = \bm{ Love } & \leftrightarrow \bm{ Remorse } \\
\bm{ Trust } & +& \bm{ Fear } & = \bm{ Submission } & \leftrightarrow \bm{ Contempt } \\
\bm{ Fear } & +& \bm{ Surprise } & = \bm{ Awe } & \leftrightarrow \bm{ Aggressiveness } \\
\bm{ Surprise } & +& \bm{ Sadness } & = \bm{ Disapproval } & \leftrightarrow \bm{ Optimism } \\
\bm{ Sadness } & +& \bm{ Disgust } & = \bm{ Remorse } & \leftrightarrow \bm{ Love } \\
\bm{ Disgust } & +& \bm{ Anger } & = \bm{ Contempt } & \leftrightarrow \bm{ Submission } \\
\bm{ Anticipation } & +& \bm{ Anger } & = \bm{ Aggressiveness } & \leftrightarrow \bm{ Awe } \\
\bm{ Serenity } & +& \bm{ Interest } & =\bm{ Optimism } & \leftrightarrow \bm{ Disapproval } \\
\end{array}\)
Do You Know What Love Really Is?
The Wheel of Emotion
From this initial emotional theory Plutchik then developed a Wheel of Emotion.
It was designed to help the user understand** the nuances of emotion** and how emotions contrast with each other.
He developed both 2 and 3 dimensional models for this.
The 3D model is the "cone-shaped model of emotion".
They were first described back in 1980.
The wheel can be used by designers to examine the complexities of emotion and to act as a "colour palette" for emotional design – with the idea being that blending different emotions will create different levels of emotional response and intensities of that response.
The wheel is a simple model and there are almost certainly additional emotional inferences that could be drawn from a more complex model – however, it focuses on the basic emotions that most designers are likely to want to elicit in their users and as such provides a useful starting point.
## Criticisms of Plutchik's Model The biggest criticism of this model is its failure to take into account the pairing of Pride and Shame. These are emotions which designers often play to. For example, [gamification](https://www.interaction-design.org/literature/topics/gamification) efforts may attempt to tap into a user's pride through [leaderboards](https://www.interaction-design.org/literature/topics/leaderboards) or badges. Conversely charitable and campaigning organizations may try to tap into shame to encourage action.
It is also often felt that the model is too simplistic and that there are greater emotional nuances not captured within it.
However, it is generally agreed that the Wheel of Emotion is a good starting point when considering what emotions a design may elicit. It does not prevent the UX designer from looking for additional tools to aid in emotional design.
Other Emotion Wheels
Although Plutchik’s Wheel of Emotions is one of the more popular ones, you may not resonate with how it’s used or find it helpful. Therefore, there are a couple of other emotion wheels that have been developed since.
The GEW(Geneva Emotion Wheel)
Geneva's Wheel isn't in the shape of a wheel but is instead designed as a square with four main quadrants.
The GEW(Geneva Emotion Wheel)
SWISS CENTER FOR AFFECTIVE SCIENCES, University of Geneva, Swiss
Geneva Emotion Research Group
The development of this instrument has been supported by funds from the Gottlieb-Daimler- and Karl Benz-Foundation, Germany, the Swiss National Fund for Research, and the Swiss National Centre for Affective Sciences to Klaus Scherer.
The GEW(Geneva Emotion Wheel) is a theoretically derived and empirically tested instrument to measure emotional reactions to objects, events, and situations.
It divides emotions into four categories:
\(\large \begin{array}{lll} \\
&\bm{ Unpleasant } & , &\bm{ High\ Control } \\
&\bm{ Unpleasant } & , &\bm{ Low\ Control } \\
&\bm{ Pleasant } & , &\bm{ High\ Control } \\
&\bm{ Pleasant } & , &\bm{ Low\ Control } \\
\end{array}\)
It's based on whether the emotion is pleasant or unpleasant and the level of control or power you feel you have over it or the circumstances that caused it.
For instance, the feeling of surprise is located on the border of pleasant and unpleasant and is categorized as low control. Surprises aren't always pleasant and it can be challenging to control that feeling.
Anger is a high control, unpleasant emotion,
Sadness is a low control, unpleasant emotion.
What If I Can't Identify My Emotion?
One of the features that the Geneva Wheel has that Plutchik's doesn't is an area for “no emotions” or “other emotions."
This is useful for those who experience emotional numbness and removes the pressure of finding a word to match the feeling you're feeling.
Sometimes, the stress of labeling an emotion can outweigh the benefits of identifying it.
Downloads
References
The development of the GEW is described in the following documents, which you can download for private use:
- Scherer, K. R. (2005). What are emotions? And how can they be measured? Social Science Information, 44(4), 693-727.
- Scherer, K.R., Shuman, V., Fontaine, J.R.J, & Soriano, C. (2013). The GRID meets the Wheel: Assessing emotional feeling via self-report. In Johnny R.J. Fontaine, Klaus R. Scherer & C. Soriano (Eds.), Components of Emotional Meaning: A sourcebook (pp. 281-298). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
- Sacharin, V., Schlegel K., & Scherer K. R. (2012). Geneva Emotion Wheel Rating Study. Unpublished report.
Junto's Wheel
Junto's Wheel was created as a for-profit tool by the Junto Institute to help businesses improve the emotional intelligence of their employees.
It consists of three inner circles and has a simple layout that is easy to use and understand.
Basic emotions are located in the center:
\(\large \begin{array}{lll} \\
&\bm{ Love } \\
&\bm{ Fear } \\
&\bm{ Anger } \\
&\bm{ Sadness } \\
&\bm{ Surprise } \\
&\bm{ Joy } \\
\end{array}\)
As you move to the outer edge of the wheel, the emotions become more complex and specific. This can be helpful when **trying to understand the deeper layers** of **your initial feelings**.
For instance, you're feeling angry. However, after some self-reflection,
you realize you're also feeling jealous, resentful, and frustrated.
This Wheel Separates Love and Happiness
It is a comprehensive wheel with over 100 different emotions.
Unlike the other wheels, it separates love from happiness and categorizes it as a different emotion.
Tips For How to Use An Emotion Wheel
Putting words to our negative feelings is effective in reducing their intensity and effect.
How to Use and Emotion Wheel
Using an emotion wheel can be helpful for you to learn how to understand your emotions.
Here are some tips to get you started:
- Name your emotion:
Maybe you had a bad day at work. You feel uneasy and not like yourself.
Look at the wheel and** go through the list of emotions to find one or more** that describes that feeling.
Giving words to those feelings can help you feel more in control of them.- Reflect on why you're feeling this way:
The next step is to dig a little deeper to discover potential causes for these feelings.
When people are emotionally heightened, it's often not due to a single event but a series of experiences.
Spend some time reflecting on your day, past week, month, or even year.
For instance, maybe you're feeling sad but nothing sad happened that day.
However, it's been months since you've seen your friends.
You may be feeling lonely and isolated and craving some social interaction.- Take action:
Once you've identified the reasons for how you're feeling,
you can take action to manage your reaction to them and deal with the triggers.
This can mean changing your routine, doing activities that boost your mood, talking to a friend about what's been going on, or writing in your journal about it.
Sometimes having clarity about your emotions allows you to accept them for what they are and is sufficient enough for you to move forward.
Also Yourself to Feel What You Feel
There isn't a right or wrong way to identify your emotions. Using an emotion wheel is one of the many ways you can do this. The most important thing to remember is to not try to push emotions down, ignore them or bottle them up as that can harm our physical health, mental health, and general well-being.
A Word From Verywell
Confronting your emotions and dealing with them is incredibly beneficial in the long run.7If you find it difficult to manage your emotions, it can be helpful to talk to a therapist or healthcare professional. They can help you understand yourself better, develop mechanisms to improve your mental well-being, and provide a safe space for you to explore your thoughts and emotions.
| Created By | Reviewed By | Date |
|---|---|---|
 Katharine Chan, MSc, BSc, PMP Katharine is the author of three books (How To Deal With Asian Parents, A Honest Dating Guide and A Straight Up Guide to a Happy and Healthy Marriage) and the creator of 60 Feelings To Feel: A Journal To Identify Your Emotions. She has over 15 years of experience working in British Columbia's healthcare system. |
 Sabrina Romanoff, PsyD is a licensed clinical psychologist and a professor at Yeshiva University’s clinical psychology doctoral program. |
Updated on September 12, 2022 |
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